Tomlin takes US comedy prize

Veteran performer Lily Tomlin was last night awarded one of the highest accolades in American comedy, the Mark Twain Prize for humor.

Stars including Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Miss Piggy all paid tribute to the 64-year-old comic at Washington's Kennedy Center.

Parton, who appeared opposite Tomlin in the 1980 film 9 To 5, said: " Lily is not the kind of comedian who tells jokes. She's like Mark Twain. She tells us the truth about ourselves and we laugh to keep from crying."

And comic George Lopez said her work with Richard Pryor was "among the best comedy moments ever".

Video tributes came from her All Of Me co-star Steve Martin, as well as Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams.

Only five people have previously won the prize: Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Richard Pryor, Jonathan Winters and Carl Reiner.

Published: 27 Oct 2003